Fire extinguishing apparatus



1937- s." E. ALLEN 2,090,279

FIRE EXTINGUISHING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 25, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

NTOR 60077-5 ALE/v Q (mm,

ATTORNEY Aug. 17, 1937. s. Y 2,090,279

FIRE EXTINGUI SHING APPARATUS Filed Feb. 25. 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 0INVENTOR v ficorrfflzuw I & a: 3. mm

ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 17, 1937 U NlTED- STATES EXTINGUISHING arrm'rusScott E. Allen, Glen Ridge, N. 1., assignor to C-O-Two Fire EquipmentCompany, Newark; N. 1., a corporation of Delaware Application February25; 1935, SerlalNo. am

Claims.

The present invention relates to fire extinguishing apparatus and moreparticularly to a system in which a common delivery line leads from asource of fire extinguishing fluid. to a plurality of tire haza'rds orzones to be protected, with a main supply valve (or valves) controllingrelease of the fluid into the delivery line and a selector valve foreach of said zones to determine into which of said 1 zones the fluidwill be discharged.

An object of the invention is'to provide improved means foroperating'the selector valves and cooperating means between the selectorvalves and themain valve, whereby whenever any one 01 the selectorvalves is opened the main 'valv will also be opened.

A further object of the invention is to provide a fluid pressure meansfor transmitting an operative impulse from each selector valve to themain valve or valves. Another object of the invention is to providemeans for generating either a positive or nega-' tive fluid pressureimpulse when the selector valve is opened and utilizingsuch impulse toeflect the release of fire extinguishing fluid into the delivery line.

In a preferred embodiment of my invention the selector valves and themain supply valve or valves are operated by weights which are releasedby tripping devices and fluid pressure means are 4 provided foractuating said tripping devices. In

each zone or enclosure to be protected is a primary actuator foroperating the tripping device for the selector valve controllingdelivery to said zone. Obviously, the primary actuator may con- 5 sistof a thermostatic switch controlling electrical means for releasing theweight, but I prefer to employ a thermosensitive device of the typecomprising a fluid chamber in which a fluid is expanded by'a rise oftemperature, creating pressure suflicient to operate the trip.

An object of my invention is to provide in con nection with such a fluidpressure thermostat,

auxiliary manual means for producing a rise of pressure so that theselector valve may be opened 5 at ,will by an attendant.

Another object of my invention is to provide, in each enclosure, aprimary actuator which will be responsive not only to a rise oftemperature,

but also to a sudden rise of atmospheric pressure 50 for operating thetripping device of the selector valve. An advantage of this arrangementis that in case of an explosion the rise of pressure due to suchexplosion would operate the selector valve immediately and this in turnwould operate the 55 main valve, so that the supply of flreextinguishthe claims.

With these and other objects inview which'will appear'hereinafter Ishall now describe a pre-' ferred embodiment of my invention and certainmodifications thereof and thereafter the novelty and scope of theinvention will bev pointed outin In the accompanying drawings: a Figure1 is a somewhat diagrammatic vview in front elevation of a flreextinguishing system embodying my invention;. 1

Fig. 2 is a side view on the larger scale and looking' in the directionof the arrow 2' in Fig. l, of one of the selector'valves and meansassociated therewith for generating a minus pressure'ime pulse when thevalve is opened; l I

Fig. 3 is a view in-section taken on line 33 of Fig. 2; 20 Fig. 4 is aview in longitudinal section of a 1 manually operable pressuregenerating. means for actuating the tripping device of a selector-valve;

Fig. 5 is a view in section of a preferred form of primary actuatorwhich is responsive not only 25- to a rise of temperature but also'to asudden rise of pressure; 1

Fig. 615 a view similar to Fig. 1 showing amodifled form of myinvention;

8. 7 is a view in side elevation of oneof the '30 I.

selector valves and means associated therewith for generating a positivepressure impulse;

Fig. 8 is a view in section taken on the line. 8-8 of Fig. 7; and, 7

Fig. 9 is a view in front elevation and partlyin section of a selectorvalve with another form of pressure generating means. I In thesystemillustrated in Fig. l, I show two rooms or enclosures l0 and IIrespectively which are to be Protected, against fire, A battery ofcylinders l2 containing carbon dioxide liquefied under pressure or othersuitable fire extinguishing fluid maintained under pressure,is providedto" extinguish a flre in said enclosures. Each of the cylinders I2 isprovided with'a suitable discharge head l3 adapted to be operated byalever H to release the fluid from the cylinder. The fluid thus releasedis led through a pipe I 5 into a main delivery line Ii leading to thevicinity of the rooms l0 and H. From the conduit l6 lead branch conduitsll into the enclosures l0 and H, each branch line H terminating in aspreader l8 provided with discharge nozzles l9. In each of the branchlines ll there is a valve 20 which, for convenience will be termed aselector valve. Normally, these valves are closed and they are openedonly in case of 'a fire in the room to which the branch line leads andsuch opening is performed either manually or automatically, as will nowbe explained.

In each room there is a theme-sensitive device which is in the form of areservoir or chamber 22 containing air or other suitable expansiblefluid and from this chamber leads a pipe '23 to a suitablereleaseldevlce 24; The muerlsorweu known type comprising a diaphrag'mwhich is actuated by a rise of fluid pressure in the cham-.

ber 22. Movement of this diaphragm releases an arm26 which is Iorked atits outer end and supports. a lug 21 at the upper end of a cable, 23.This cable 23 at its opposite end is connected by a clamp 29 to a cable30 which passes about a grooved pulley 3| having a spiral contour. The

, are in the position shown in Fig. l, the pulley 3| is maintained inits raised position by engage-, ment of the lower-clamp 33 with theunderside of cable 39, beyond its point of attachment to the cable 29 isconnected to a weight 32. g V

A clamp 33 is secured to the cable 39 at a point 'spaced'below the clamp29. The pulley" II is formed with a fork -which'projects between theclamps 29 and 33 and normally, when the parts thefork 351' However, whenthe arm 25 is releasedit willswing downwardly,*letting the lug 2'l slipof! the fork of said arm, and as the weight 32 drops the clamp 29 willstrike the upper side of the fork 35 and cause the pulley 3i:-to turn onits axis through an angle of substantially 180 degrees.

The pulley 3|, as shown in 'Fig'. 2, is ilxed'to thestem' 3101' thevalve 20. This valve is of the globe type and the stem 31 has a threadedportion 3.

such that when the pulley 3| is turned the valve will be opened. Due tothe spiral nature of the pulley there will be a greater turning momentat l the beginning of the drop of the weight 32 which will overcome anytendency of the valve to'stlck.

Clamp 29 being spaced'above the fork 33 strikes the fork 35witha hammerblowgto insure. opening of the valve.

In order to'permitof operating the tripping device. 24 manually Iprovide. cylinder 49,, Fig. 4, provided witha: plunger II and a sternprojecting from the cylinder 49. A spring 33 normallyurges the. plungeroutwardly, but theplunger may be depressed manually against theaotioncii the spring ,to-generate pressure in the cylinder 49. Pipeconnects the cylinder to the pipe 23 so that,fwhenever desired, pressuremay be; built up to operate the trip release 24 and thereby drop theweight 32 to open the selector valve 29 associated therewith. .Anothermeans, of

manual control of each selector valve consists in Y the provision of abell crank lever 41 pivoted to the casing of the release device 24- Onearm of the bell crankleveris connected to acable 43- which leads to aconvenient point ofyoperation where itrpasses about a pulley andterminates. in a hand grip 59. The other arm ii of the bell crank leverbears, against the lug 21, so that by pulling thegrip 50 the lug 21 maybe. pushed off the forked arm 26, thus releasing the weight 32.

Ihere is 'a suction .device associatedawltheach selector valve. Thisdevice comprises a cylindrical casing 52 supported by a bracket 53clamped to the pipe I] adjacent said valve. Projecting from the 1 casingis'a stem Theinner endof thisstem is connected to a head plate 55 of.acollapsible bellows 59. The oppositeend of the bellows te'rminates inaplate 53 which bears against a shoulder formed by an insert59 in thecasing 53.. The insert 53 provides a chamber 59 which communicateswith-the interior of the bellows through a port in the plate 58 and isalso connected by a pipe line 5| to a release device 62. The bellows isurged toward expanded condition by an internal spring 63 but is normallyprevented from expanding by engagement ofthe stem 53 with a cam 64formed on the adjacent face of the pulley. I

The shape ot this cam is suclrth'at asthe stem 31 is-moved outwardly byturning of-the pulley 39 there will be initially no outward movement ofthe stem 54. In other words the cam has an initial inclined surface 55which is of the same angle as thatof the threads 38. A sharp declivity59 leads from the peak of the incline 55, so that after the stem. haspassed said peak it may move out; suddenly under action of spring 54,

thereby producing a suction impulse in the line 5|.

The'operating levers ll of the discharge heads l3 ar preferablyconnected by a strap II which in turn is attached to a cable" thataround a pulley I2 and is connected atitc lower end to a weight 13. Thisweight'is suihcient to pull thelevers' I4 and release the fluid-from thecylinders l2 intothe linelll. In thedrawing'we have shown onlytwocylinders 42,; but obviously there canbe any desired number ofthemand'thm weight 13 will be proportioned to perform necessary work ofopening the discharge heads of the battery of cylinders. I The weight I3is'nor mally held .in inactive position, preferably with acertainarnount of slack in the line I I bya cable 15 which at itsupper-end is connectedtto a hook Ii lever 15 pivoted on the casing ofthe 'release'device 52.

than to state that it comprises anopera'ting. diaphragm whichisarrangedto release the lever 15 when moved by a. suction impulse inthe lineii. The operation of the system will now be under stood. In caseof, a flrein one of theenclosures l3 or-l I, therise of temperaturetherein will pro This release device islof atype well. known in the artand needs nodescription other duce pressure in chamber=22 locatedinsaidzenclosure, thereby operatingthe tripping device 2 associatedtherewith to release its-arml25l The weight 32 suspended thereon willthendrop and 7 cause the pulley" :to swing through an angleo! about 180degrees, and'in so doing will open the selector valve 21L controllingadmission of ex'- tinguishing fluid to; said enclosure.

greesthe stem 54, which ;has beenriding along Afterthe pulley hasvmovedvthroughapproximately dethe camsurfa'ce 55 will pass-the peak of'said 1surface and be permitted to spring out under pres-1 sure of the spring63. ,This-will, cause asudden i expansion of the bellows producing aminus; pressure impulse in the line BI; and thereby effecting release ofthe weight 13, which will causethe cylinders 12 todischarge into themain delivery lineii. Thesupply of fluid will .then flow into theparticular enclosure in which the fire is located but will.;not enterthe other enclosure because theselectorvalve -n ofsuch other en,-

closure will remain closed. While L-have shown only two rooms orenclosures obviously the system could be extended to;,incude any numberof rooms within practical limits. I 1 1 While ordinarily the controlelements employed for effectinga rise of pressure to operate tripdevices like that illustrated. at 24, consist of fixed metallic bulbs orreservoirs. ,I prefer,;to .a devicesuch as shown in Fig. 5 whichwilinot, only respond to a rise of pressure dueto thermal conditions butwill also respond to marked pressure changesin the surroundingmtmosphereThe de-' vice comprises,a,collapsible;bellows 10 which is;

responsive to predetermined differences of atmospheric pressure. Thisbellows is provided with a fixed head 19 to which the tube 23 isconnected, providing communication with the interior of the bellows. Thehead 19 may be secured to the ceiling of the enclosure with the bellows18 depending therefrom. The lower end of the bellows is closed, ofcourse, and a cage 80 of stifi wire or will thus be transmitted to therelease device 24 to operate the same. This novel type of primaryactuator is of considerable importance in certain situations. Forexample, in electric-a1 installations where 011 cooled transformers areemployed, sometimes there is an explosion of -the oil or oil vapors andsuch explosion will instantly set in motion the mechanism for releasingextinguishing fluid into the chamber without waiting for the moresluggish expansion or" fluid due to the rise of temperature. There willthus be 7 an almost instant discharge of extinguishing fluid to smotherthe fire before it can do any material damage. 7

The manually operable plunger 4| provides a convenient means ofinitiating the discharge of extinguishing fluid into the chamberwhenever desired, while the cable actuating grip 50 provides anothermanual means for releasing the weight 32 from a point at a distance fromthe room to be protected.

- In Figs. 6 and 7 I show another form of my invention which is verysimilar to the structure already described and Iemploy the samereference numerals to indicate corresponding parts. The principaldifference between the two structures lies in the fact that theoperation of each selector valve generates pressure instead of suctionin the line 6I and this pressure is used to release the weight whichoperates the discharge heads of the battery of cylinders. To generatesuch pressure, I employ the same mechanism as shown in Fig. 3, namely,an expansible bellows 56 but normally the bellows is fully expanded, asshown in Fig. 8, and when the adjacent selector valve is operated thebellows is suddenly collapsed to produce the requisite pressure. Thedifference between the two systems consists therefore mainly in theprovision of a pulley 30a which differs from the pulley 30 only inhaving a different form of operating cam 82, while at the other end ofthe line 6i there is a release device'62a which like the device 62 is ofstandard construction well known in the art'but arranged to operate inresponse to a pressure impulse instead of suction to release the hooklever 16. As shown particularly in Fig.7 the cam 82 formed on a face ofthe pulley 3la. is formed with an initial steep rise 83 which terminatesin surface 84 parallel to the face of the pulley Ma. The rise 83 is verymuch steeper than the slope of the threads 38 on the valve stem 31 sothat in operation as the pulley 3Ia is turned by the pull of the weight32 the incline surface 83 of the cam will depress the stem 54 of thebellows despite the fact that the pulley 31a is being bodily movedtoward the right as viewed in Fig. 7. In other words, the extent ofdepression of stem 54 is determined by the difference in slope ofsurface 83 with respect to that of threads 38. The sudden compression ofthe bellows 56 will transmit a pressure impulse in the line 61 whichwill operate the device 62a to release the hook lever 16, permittingweight 13 to drop and cause the cylinders l2 to discharge into the maindelivery line l6 and thence through the particular valve 20 which hasbeen opened into the enclosure controlled by said valve. After the stem54 has ridden up the incline 83 and has reached the level 84 it mayagain move outwardly due to the fact that thepulley 30a is bodilyshifted toward the right by the screwing motion of the stem 31 but suchmovement of the stem 54 and consequent expansion of the bellows 56 willhave no effect because the hook lever 16 will already have'released theweight 13.

In Fig. 9, I show still another'form of my invention in which partscorresponding to those already described are given like referencenumerals.

In this structure a pressure impulse is employed to operate a releasedevice 62a. but the pressure is obtained by the drop of a plunger in acylinder,

such plunger constituting the weight which opens the selector valve.Instead of a spiral pulley 3| or 3la I provide a semi-circular pulley 3|b, having a fork 86 at one end through which passes a cable 28b providedat its lower end with a stop 81. This cable 28b takes the place of cable28 in Figs. 1 and 6 and is normally supported by the arm 26 of a releasedevice 24. J The cable 282) thus normally holds the pulley 31b in theposition shown in Fig. 9. I

To operate the pulley, I provide a cable 30b which is fastened at oneend to the pulley and then passes about the pulley and through the fork86. The opposite end of the cable 30b carries a Weighted plunger 88which has a sliding fit in the cylinder 89. Thus, when the cable 28b isreleased the weight of plunger 88 will turn the pulley 3!?) and open theselector valve 20. At the same time the plunger will compress air in thecylinder 69 and a pipe 61b running to the release device 6241, therebyeffecting release of the weight 13 which, in turn, will cause dischargeof cylinders l2 into the line 16. In this structure it will be observedthat the bellows 56 and associated parts are eliminated therebyeffecting economy in cost of apparatus.

The purpose of using a semi-circular pulley in place of a spiral pulleyis to keep the point at which cable 30b departs from the pulley 31b atall times substantially on the vertical axis of the plunger 88 andthereby prevent binding of the plunger in the cylinder. As the pulleyturns the cable 30b may move freely out of the fork 86, pushing thecable 28b out of the way should it chance to remain in the fork whenreleased from arm 26.

In the drawings I have shown a weight 13 directly operating both of thecylinders I2. Obviously where a battery of a number of cylinders isemployed the weight may directly actuate the discharge head of only oneor two of the cylinders and. the fluid thus released can then beutilized to effect the discharge of the rest of the cylinders, inaccordance with practice well known in the art.

While I have described a preferred embodiment and certain modificationsthereof it will be understood that these are to be taken as illustrativeand not llmitative and that various changes may made in form,construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spiritand scope of my invention as set forth in the claims.

I claim:

5, 1. In a flre extinguishing apparatus including a conduit having adischarge outlet and a valve normally closing the outlet,' means foropening the valve, and a controller for said means operable by fluidpressure, a normally expanded bellows of heat conducting materialadjacent the outlet containing an expansible fluid, a fluid conduitconnecting the bellows and said controller, and a cagelimiting expansionof the bellows.

2. In a flre extinguishing apparatus of the character described, asource of flre extinguishing fluid under pressure, a conduit leadingtherefrom and having a discharge outlet, closure means normallypreventing admission of fluid from said source into the conduit, a valvenormally closing said outlet, said valve having a stem rotatable to openthe valve, means for rotating the stem to open the valve, means adjacentthe valve providing a pneumatic chamber of variable capacity, a camflxed to the stem, means controlled by the cam for effecting a suddenchange in capacity of said chamber as the valve is opened so as toproduce a pneumatic impu1se,-and means controlled by said impulse foropening the closure means.

80 3. In aflre extinguishing apparatus of the character,described, asource of flre extinguishing fluid under pressure, a conduit leadingtherefrom and having a plurality of outlets, a main valve normallypreventing admission of fluid from said source into the conduit, a valvefor each outlet 1 comprising a closure element normally held in seatedposition to close the outlet, means for posi-.

tively and individually withdrawing each closure ,element from its seat,means operated by said withdrawing means to generate a fluid impulse asthe closure element is being unseated, and means controlled by saidfluid'impulse for opening the main valve. 1

4. In a flre extinguishing apparatus of the character described; asource of flre extinguishing fluid under pressure, a conduit leadingtherefrom and having a plurality of outlets, a main valve normallypreventing admission of fluid from said source into the conduit, openingmeans tending to open the main valve, a device normally restraining saidopening means but operable by variation of fluid pressure to release theopening means, a valve for each of said outlets comprising a closureelement normally in a position closing the outlet, conducting meansleading from the restraining device to said outlet valves, meanscontrolled by surrounding atmospheric conditions at each outlet forforcing open the closure element of the outlet, and means operated bythe forcing means for generating a fluid impulse in said conductingmeans to operate the restraining device.

5. In a fire extinguishing apparatus of the character described, asource of fire extinguish- 5 ing fluid under pressure, a conduit leadingtherefrom and having a plurality of outlets, a main valve normallypreventing admission of fluid from said source into the conduit, openingmeans tending to open the main valve, a device normally 70 restrainingsaid opening means but operable by variation of fluid pressure torelease the opening means, a valve for each of' said outlets comprisinga closure element normally in a position closing the outlet, conductingmeans leading from 75 the restraining device to said outlet valves,means controlled by temperature conditions at each outlet for forcingopen the closure element of the outlet, and means operated by theforcing means ior generating a fluid impulse in said conducting means tooperate the restraining device. 5

6. Inaflreextinguishingapparatus of the character described, a source offlre extinguishing fluid under pressure, a conduit leading therefrom andhaving a plurality of cutlets,,a main valve normally preventingadmission of fluid from 10 said source into, the conduit, opening meanstend ing to open the main valve, a device normally restraining saidopening means but operable by variation of fluid pressure to release theopening means, a valve for each of said outlets comprising 15 a closureelement normally in a position closing the outlet, conducting meansleading from the restraining device to said outlet valves, meanscontrolled by surrounding pressure conditions at each outlet for forcingopen the closure ele- 2o ment of the outlet, and means operated by theforcing means for generating a fluid impulse in said conducting means tooperate the restraining device.

7. In a-.flre extinguishing apparatus ofthe 25 character described, asource of flre extinguishing fluid under pressure, a conduit leadingtherefrom and having a plurality of outlets, a main valve normallypreventing admission of fluid from said source into the conduit. openingmeans tendso 1 ing the outlet, conducting means leading from therestraining device to said outlet valves, means controlled by;atmospheric conditions as well as by thermal conditions at each outletfor forcing open the closure element of the outlet, 40 and meansoperated by the forcing means for generating a fluid impulse in saidconducting means to operate the restraining device.

8. In a flre extinguishing apparatus of the character described, asource of flre extinguish 45 ing fluid under pressure, a conduit leadingtherefrom and having a discharge outlet, a main valve normallypreventing admission of fluid from said source into the conduit, anoutlet valve comprising a closure element normally held in a posi- 50tion closing said outlet, means for positively forcing the closureelement to open position, a fluid reservoir adjacent the outlet valve, aduct leading therefrom to a point near the main valve, means controlledby the opening means for producing a. 55 sudden expansion of thereservoir as the valve is opened and thereby produce a suction impulsein the duct, and means controlled by said suction impulse for openingthe main valve.

9. In a flre extinguishing apparatus of the 60 character described, asource of flre extinguishing fluid under pressure, a conduit leadingtherefrom and having a discharge outlet, 9. main valve normallypreventing admission of fluid from said source into the conduit, anoutlet valve comprising a closure element normally held in a position toclose said outlet, gravity means for moving said closureelementtoopensaid outlet, said gravity means comprising an actuatingweight, a cylinder in which the weight slides as a plunger therebyproducing a pneumatic impulse as the outlet valve is opened,.meansnormally restraining operation of the gravity means, means for releasingthe gravity means from the restraining means whereby the gravity meanswill move said closure element to open position and produce suchpneumatic impulse, and means controlled by such pneumatic impulse foropening the main valve.

10. In a fire extinguishing apparatus of the character described, asource of fire extinguishing fluid under pressure, a conduit leadingtherefrom and having a discharge outlet, 9. main valve normallypreventing admission of fluid from said source into the conduit, anoutlet valve comprising a. closure element normally held in position toclose said outlet, a fluid reservoir adjacent the valve, a duct leadingtherefrom to a point near the closure means, impacting means constructedand arranged to force the closure element to a position opening theoutlet and simultaneously to produce a sudden variation in volume or thereservoir thereby producing a fluid impulse in the duct as the outlet isopened, and means controlled by said impulse for opening the closuremeans.

SCOTT E. ALLEN.

